Assessment of urban background concentrations of aromatic compounds in airby means of diffusive sampling

Diffusive sampling was used as a monitoring technique to assess urban backg round concentrations and define highly polluted areas in two Itahan cities. The current publication shows the results obtained during two monitoring c ampaigns carried out in Catania and Bologna during 1996 and 1997-8, respect ively, for the measurement of volatile aromatic compounds, i.e. benzene, to luene and xylenes (BTX). The highest background concentrations were found d uring the winter campaigns. Furthermore, Catania showed higher concentratio n levels of BTX than Bologna. Such effects were explained by the different meteorology and atmospheric conditions of dispersion.